Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts over his theft of more than 300 classified US Government documents from the White House.

Trump was formally arraigned in Federal court in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday. He is charged on 31 counts of violating the Espionage Act, each of which carries a maximum 10-year sentence, and on six other counts — some of which carry a 20-year term — related to false statements and obstruction of a Government investigation.

EA on Al Jazeera English and BBC: The Federal Indictment of Donald John Trump

Trump Indicted On 37 Felony Counts Over Theft of Classified Documents and Obstruction

Trump appeared in court alongside his valet Walt Nauta, who faces six charges for his role in concealing the classified documents concealed from authorities. Trump frowned with his arms crossed, occasionally talking to his attorney Todd Blanche.

Trump was released on bond on the condition that he not discuss the case with a list of witnesses, provided by the office of Special Counsel Jack Smith.

After the brief hearing, Trump tried to divert attention from the charges with an appearance at a Cuban restaurant, where he declared that he would buy food for all his supporters who had been gathered there.

Trump then flew to his New Jersey golf resort, where he again tried to seize headlines with a rant against the US Government, Joe Biden, past Presidents, the Justice Department, Special Counsel Smith, Bill and Hillary Clinton.

He proclaimed that he was the victim of “a political persecution like something straight out of a fascist or communist nation”.